A friendship is formed between an ex-gangster, and two groups of hitmen - those who want to protect him and those who were sent to kill him.
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Reviews
Wonderful character development!
Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike
Excellent, Without a doubt!!
Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
Second movie in Brotherhood of Assassin's TrilogyTale of Brotherhood following two duos of henchmen - two sent to kill and two sent to protect - helping their old hitman friend complete one last job so he leaves money behind for his family ..First Part follows henchmen protecting Wo Second Part follows henchmen exile and search for gold
and ... it was very very good overall nice tensions building up everywhich way, nice performances, gunfights that were more or less cyphers - it was completely unclear what was happening in em until the dust settled and you saw finally who'd survived the big brouhahas and who hadn't done.I liked it very much for its timing and phrasing however illogical a lot of it was it was very effective and the audience was beautifully manipulated through the various stages in the progress of the narrative.I have to say the big bad guy was awfully forgiving for someone who had his testicalia blown off, of course it wasn't really so, he was a backstabbing type and even if all hell had not broken loose he would certainly have wreaked havoc over his new boy soprano spot in the choir!
Good luck trying to make any kind of sense out of "Exiled," a largely incoherent Chinese mob drama that at least boasts exquisite photography by Cheng Siu-Keung and uber-stylish direction by Johnnie To to hook and enthrall us. In fact, so riveting are the movie's visuals that you won't even mind that you can't tell who's who without a program or figure out how any of the characters are related to one another in the context of the narrative. It all has something to do with a gang of assassins trying to protect one of their own from the very mob boss who has sent them on a mission to take the man out - but I'll be damned if I can explain anything more that happens in the movie.Suffice it to say that with its meticulously composed, wide screen framing, its stylized action scenes - kind of a cross between Quentin Tarentino and Robert Rodriguez - its visual correlatives, and its dark, velvety colors, the movie makes it hard for us to tear our eyes off the screen for a single second.Almost a textbook case of style triumphing over substance, "Exiled" is a true cineaste's delight. And hang the story.
Johnnie To has 50 films under his belt and is becoming a peer of John Woo with his stylized flicks that contain smoking action and great choreography with magnificent sound.On has to wonder how these people ever got jobs as hit men. They couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. It's just as well, because with all the shooting, it would be over far too quickly.It is amazing how they manage to have a gun fight and then sit down to dinner like nothing happened, and then say that they have to kill Wo (Nick Cheung), but agree to do it at his convenience. Well, they are childhood friends, but orders have to be obeyed, they just don't have to be obeyed right at the moment.What a finale!